Page 107 of Into the Blue

Before she came, I had been getting them accustomed to her. I didn’t know I was introducing my snakes to another one.

It was me telling her that snakes get a bad rep and here I am calling her one like it’s an insult.

Was this me being a sore loser?

I couldn’t tell. My pride was hurt and I knew from all appearances that I looked like a fool. People would talk and likely come to that conclusion.

They didn’t know her.

She was unmatched.

I had to be impressed by what she had accomplished even if it came at my expense.

I could make this right.

I could get my empire back, if I got my head out of my ass.

How she managed to beat me at my own game is a complete mystery. I never knew and on top of it all she still was a comfort to me. I don’t think her feelings, her concern, her passion was fake.

When I said I wanted to have something real with her, I meant that. And that was with her held against her will. Fuck, I had held her against her will and she still showed me compassion. I put her through so much and she was still thinking about me.

The only choices I had right now were to bow to her or lose my empire to the woman who took it.

If she had gotten Senior on her side and put the Fayes in a place to best me, then who's to say what she could do if I were to re-ally with them again…

Redd was right. Racquelle could save Dupont just as she was able to destroy it.

Did I really want to lose her and my empire?

There was only one right answer.

I hear a noise at the front of the house that should not be happening. There are no guards here anymore with her gone. And I always lived alone.

My front door opens and I freeze.

Who the fuck could that be?

Putting my snakes back in their enclosure, I grab her watch off my bed and put it into my pocket.

Pulling my knife, I make silent steps to the doorway and out the hall.

“Who the fuck is here?” I bellow down the hall with the sound of footsteps in my foyer.

Then, a bag goes over my head and I can’t see shit. Blindly, I swipe my blade, but with a chop to my wrist, it falls from my hands.

“Got ‘em,” someone says to my left but there are already three men on me. One holds my legs while two more have my arms. “Headed your way,” they say while I’m restrained.

I thrash and flail, but I don’t earn any give for myself. “Man, put me down.” I complain, helpless in my home. “What the fuck? Who are you?”

The one who was speaking before says, “We don’t want to have to tape your mouth, so come quietly and you’ll get the answers you’re lookin’ for.”

DIAMOND

Back to the place where it all started.

Off Topz looks totally different to me now that I'm no longer an employee here.

Except it’s nothing like it was when I first stepped foot in here.